Autism Spectrum Disorders (or ASDs) are thought to affect as many as 1 in every 100 people in Australasia. By definition, people with ASDs have difficulties with social interactions and communication, and with adapting to changes in their environment or daily routine. Some people with ASD have little or no language, while others have perfectly good language skills but struggle to engage in conversations and make use of body language. Many people with ASDs also have motor coordination difficulties, while sensory-perceptual problems are common.

Autism Research in Australasia

Researchers across Australia and New Zealand are trying to understand the causes of ASD and how best to identify and help people with ASD and their families. This website provides profiles of individual researchers, as well as details of ongoing research projects. It also serves as the homepage for the Australasian Autism Research Collaboration.

Australasian Autism Research Collaboration (AARC)

Aims

The aims of the AARC are to:

further research in the understanding, detection, prevention and treatment of autism.

provide forums for the sharing and exchange of research within Australasia.

encourage and establish collaborative research.

provide support, encouragement, and a forum for new researchers, including research higher degree students.

promote and establish international research linkages and collaborations.

establish practice guidelines in education, treatment and diagnosis.

seek funding for research.

establish and maintain a national register/data base/website to promote and report research and projects relevant to ASD.

foster evidence-based practice in the delivery of services to the ASD community.

Goals

These aims can be achieved by:

identifing any synergies, and potential group collaborations

delineating strategies for collaborative multi disciplinary research, building proposals based on current researcher groups and individuals

generating larger samples through collaboration and data pooling

reaching agreement on common basic measures for research projects to facilitate data pooling

developing a clinical trials group to respond rapidly to current controversies

developing national guidelines for the raft of current government initiatives

developing strategies for advocacy and lobbying

finding funding sources to support the AARC

Current AARC Members

Dr Angelika Anderson, Monash University, VIC

Adjunt Associate Prof Tony Attwood, Griffith University, QLD

Prof Edith Bavin, LaTrobe University, VIC

Associate Professor Verity Bottroff, Flinders University, SA

Dr Avril Brereton, Monash University, VIC

Dr Jon Brock, Macquarie University, NSW

Assoc Prof Cheryl Dissanayake, LaTrobe University, VIC

Prof Valsamma Eapen, University of New South Wales, NSW

Dr Kylie Gray, Monash University, VIC

Assoc Prof Deb Keen, Griffith University, QLD

Dr Christine Kilham, Canberra University, ACT

Dr Danuta Loesch, LaTrobe University, VIC

Assoc Prof Murray Maybery, University of Western Australia, WA

Dr Oliver Mudford, University of Auckland, NZ

Prof Candida Peterson, University of Queensland, QLD

Prof Margot Prior, Melbourne University & LaTrobe University, VIC

Assoc Prof Amanda Richdale, LaTrobe University, VIC

Dr Nicole Rinehart, Monash University, VIC

Dr Jacqui Roberts, Sydney University, NSW

Assoc Prof Sylvia Rodger, University of Queensland, QLD

Associate Professor Jeff Sigafoos, Victoria University, NZ

Dr Natalie Silove, Children's Hospital Westmead, NSW

Associate Professor Kate Sofronoff, University of Queensland, QLD

Assoc Prof Mark Stokes, Deakin University, VIC

Prof Bruce Tonge, Monash University, VIC

Dr Katrina Williams, Children's Hospital Westmead, NSW

Dr John Wray, State Child Development Centre, WA

Assoc Prof Robyn Young, Flinders University, SA

AARC Meetings

The inaugural meeting of the AARC was held at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at LaTrobe University in April 2009. Subsequent meetings took place in August 2009 at Sydney Children's Hospital and in Adelaide in November 2009.